More Funds Expected for Health Benefits
Faced with increasing insurance premiums, Ventura County supervisors are expected to authorize spending an additional $1.9 million this fiscal year on health benefits for about 5,000 employees.
Under an agreement forged between union representatives and administrators, the county would contract with Foundation Health Corp. to provide medical insurance for the workers.
The move calls for increasing spending by about $520 per employee, to a total of $4,316 annually.
Originally, the county had expected premiums to increase by $780 per employee under a plan with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. But county administrators and union members agreed last month to switch to the less expensive Foundation plan.
Although the increase was expected to gain the support of the board, one supervisor has objected to a provision that would allow employees to take cash instead of health benefits.
Under the plan, if county employees decline to sign up for health insurance, they could be paid up to $2,184 annually.
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